Police get hybrids, electric scooter

Officials announced Thursday they have added to the fleet of police vehicles an electric patrol scooter and four hybrid sedans.

The T3 scooter, which can travel at 25 mph and go some 55 miles per charge, will primarily be used to patrol downtown, police said

Police will use four Toyota Prius hybrids - which get about 48 miles per gallon, as opposed to the estimated 15 miles that older-model police cars get - by police administrators and detectives.

The new fuel-savers are in addition to the Athens-Clarke police program that placed bicycle racks on most patrol cars. Police officials urge officers to park their cars and patrol neighborhoods on bike as often as possible.